Seven Protestants have been punished for telling people on a city street the meaning of Easter.
Forum 18 News Service said the seven were arrested, handcuffed and detained about eight hours April 15 by the Central District Police Department of Minsk, Belarus. They were charged with “violations of the procedure for organizing or conducting a mass event or demonstration.”
On April 28, judges for the Minsk court found them guilty and imposed fines equaling about two months of wages for each of the seven Protestants.
Five of the seven attend New Life Pentecostal Church in Minsk, said Forum 18, quoting a statement from the church. The statement says the seven shared about Easter only with those who seemed interested.
The seven were speaking with passersby in a park on Nemiha Street in Minsk. They had with them a wooden cross 78 inches tall. After explaining the meaning of Easter, they would give the listeners the opportunity to write their sins on a piece of paper and attach the paper to the cross as a symbolic act.
Forum 18 said the seven apparently do not plan to appeal the fine.
